2002 Bilkis Bano case: SC agrees to hear fresh plea filed by women’s organisation
2002 Bilkis Bano case: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a fresh plea filed by a women’s organisation, challenging the remission of sentence and the release of convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case.
A Bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and C T Ravikumar has tagged the matter with the main petition and said it would be heard along with it.
The plea has been filed by the National Federation of Indian Women, challenging the remission of sentence and the release of convicts in the case.
The case
Bilkis Bano was 21-year-old and five-month pregnant when she was sexually exploited while fleeing the Gujarat riots in the aftermath of the Godhra train burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among seven family members killed.
All convicts walk free
The 11 men convicted in the Bilkis Bano case walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat Government allowed their release under its remission policy. They had completed over 15 years in jail.
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Earlier, the Supreme Court had listed for hearing on November 29 pleas challenging the decision of the Gujarat Government to grant remission to the 11 convicts.
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The 11 men convicted in the Bilkis Bano case walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat Government allowed their release under its remission policy.[/caption]
A Bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and CT Ravikumar granted time to the petitioners who challenged the remission order to respond to the affidavit filed by the Gujarat Government. During the hearing, the Bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the affidavit of the Gujarat government was very bulky. "It is a very big reply... So many judgments in a reply. Where is the factual statement? Where is the application of mind?" the Bench remarked.
Gujarat Govt defends its decision
On the other hand, the Gujarat Government on Monday defended before the Supreme Court its decision to grant remission to the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. It said the remission was granted as they completed 14 years sentence in prison and their "behaviour was found to be good".
The state government maintained the decision was taken as per the policy of 1992 and remission was granted on August 10, 2022, and the Central Government too approved the pre-mature release of convicts.
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— PTC News with inputs from ANI
